STAFF and residents from YMCA Wirral hosted a special event to help for a charity helping communities in West Africa rebuild their lives in the wake of Ebola.

They welcomed representatives from fundraising group Liberia YMCA, as part of the organisation's "Tools for Recovery!" scheme, which is part of a national campaign raising awareness of the disease.

In West Africa, Ebola has left its devastating mark on slum communities already crippled by poverty.

YMCA Liberia has been working tirelessly to help support the rebuilding of lives for young people affected by the outbreak.

YMCA Wirral Trustee Mel O'Connor welcomed the visitors and presented Tim Kamaboakai, YMCA Liberia's development decretary, with a cheque for £1,000 towards the appeal.

Y Care International supports the YMCA in Liberia to give young people the tools for recovery in the wake of Ebola and was recently been awarded a ‘UK Aid Match’ from the UK Government’s Department of International Development. 

This has given the YMCA a unique opportunity to raise awareness and funds for the appeal and the urgent situation that young people are facing overseas. UK Aid Match means that every donation raised on this appeal will be doubled.

Nigel Hughes, chief executive of YMCA Wirral, said: "We want to share the work in Liberia and the positive affect the YMCA is having on young people’s lives in the aftermath of the Ebola outbreak.

"Our YMCA is proud to be able to make a substantial donation and also be part of this special UK visit and hear something of the real life stories from our Liberian guests about how they are struggling to cope with the huge amount of work needed to".